Abstract

GENETIC VARIABILITY AND ASSOCIATION OF MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS FOR DROUGHT RESISTANCE IN RICE

Rudra Bhattarai, Subarna Sharma, Bedananda Chaudhary, Shukra Raj Shrestha & Surya Prasad Adhikari

Rice is the major staple food and had major role to raise the country economy. Nepal had around 30 percent of rice land prone to drought and yield of traditional varieties were even null in recent days. Main plot was water management and 48 genotypes were evaluated in sub plot and in both locations of Nepalgunj and Tarahara during 2013 monsoon season. Water had been stopped after 45th day of seeding and made of trench in upland filed to make plot suitable for reproductive stress to occur. Values of leaf rolling were high in stable entries IR87759-12-2-1-1, IR87753-11-2-1-1, IR 87759-22-1-1-2 and IR88836-39-2-3-2. The correlation coefficient for number of tillers per plant, harvest index with yield had been seen in stress condition. Identified genotypes will be suitable for stress environment of Nepal. The clustering of genotypes revealed the existence of variability present in these genotypes could be used as a parents for further breeding program.

Published Date: 2014-10-08;